Zraly Test for Sherry & Port Flashcards
What is a fortified wine?
Made when a neutral grape brandy is added to wine to raise the wine’s alcohol content
What is the difference between Port and Sherry?
when the winemaker adds the neutral brandy
Port - is added during fermentation
Sherry - added after fermentation
What is the range of alcohol contest for fortified wine?
15-20%
Where is the sherry triangle located and what 3 towns does it include?
Andalucia, (Southwestern) Spain
Jerez de la Frontera
Puerto de Santa Maria
Sanlucar de Barrameda
What are the two main varietals used to make Sherry?
Palomino Pedro Ximinez (named after Peter Siemons who brought the grape from Germany to Sherry)
What are the 5 main types of Sherry and how are they described?
Manzanilla - dry Fino - dry Amontillado - dry to medium dry Oloroso - dry to medium dry Cream - sweet
Which wine did George Washington serve at the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
Madeira
What is a bodega in Sherry?
An above-ground structure used to store wine because Sherry is an oxidized wine and the barrel is filled 2/3rds full and the bung is left loosely in the barrel to let air in
What percentage of Sherry is lost due to evaporation and what do they call it?
Each year 3% is lost due to evaporation
Called the “Angel’s Share”
What is the Solera System for blending Sherry?
An aging and maturing process that takes place through the continuous blending of several vintages of sherry stored in rows of barrels. At bottling time no more than 1/3 of the content is drawn out to make room for the new vintage - purpose is to maintain the “house” style
What type of oak is used to produce Sherry?
Only American oak
Where does Port come from?
Douro region in Northern Portugal
When is the neutral grape brandy added to Port?
During fermentation to stop fermentation and leaves behind 9-11% RS - that is why port is on the sweeter side
What are the two types of port and what is the biggest difference?
Cask-aged - ready to drink when bottled, does not improve with age
Bottle aged - gets better as it matures in the bottle
What types of port are Cask-aged?
Ruby port - dark and fruity, blended from young non-vintages
Tawny Port - lighter and more delicate, blended from many vintages
Aged Tawny - aged in casks for up to 40 years
Colheita - single vintage, wood aged for minimum of 7 years
